COMPASS.
SOekompass, . . DAN. Paduman, • . MALAY. Zeekompas, . . . DUT. COMIU1330 de maresr, PORT. Compas de mer, . . FR. Kompass kombelnii, 11oussole, „ Sjocompass, . . . sr.
Kompass, . GER., TAM. Aguja de rnarear, . „ Bussola IT. Kompassu, . . .
The compass is used for nautiall purposes by tho principal native traders of Southern and Eastern Asia, aud of the Archipolag•o. The Bugis of Celebes usesinall rude compasses, made expressly for them by the Chinese of Batavia, at tho very moderato cost of from ono shilling to eighteen pen co a-piece. Tho directive power of the nuignet 13 said to havo been known to the Chinese for ruany ages,—by their own account, no less than 2634 years B.C. Their knowledg,e of the magnet is supposed to have led them to a knowledge of the compass ; and the mariner's oompass was in vented by tho Chinese in the reign of Hoang-Ti. The subdivisions of this nautical instrument, as tnade by the Arabs, the Chinese, and the Mal dives, all vary. The Malay compass is divided
into sixteen parts, twelve of which are multiples of the four cardinal points. For the cardinal points the different nations have native terms ; but for nautical purposes, those of the Malay language are used throughout, as in the case of the nations of Celebes, the most expert native navigators of the present day. The introduction of iron ships has materially affected the value of the compasses on board of them, the variation being as much as five points, even up to 24i and 35i. The sole apparent remedy for this, but it is one of easy application, is to erect a high platform, 15 feet high, over the taffrail, on which to place the compass, and to examine repeatedly.—Craw furd's Diet. ; Bunsen, iii. p. 383 ; 11PC. Diet.